Scarlett has hardly changed the Rams’ fortunes on his own. Last year’s state title team was perhaps the deepest in the state, featuring Division I players like Connor Humphreys (Arizona State), Ryan Nall (Oregon State) and Aidan Wilder (Portland State) as just a few of the headliners.

But in Central Catholic’s three-game winning streak over the Crusaders, it has been Scarlett who has made the game-defining play each time.

As a sophomore in 2012, the Rams took a 10-7 lead into the fourth quarter and stopped Jesuit on downs in their rival’s own territory. With two rushes, Scarlett sealed the win – finishing the Crusaders off with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Scarlett scored three times in six minutes during a 45-31 Holy War win last September. (Doug Beghtel/ The Oregonian)

During last year’s regular season showdown, Scarlett took over the game at the start of the second half with the score tied at 10. He took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house, then scored on two rushing touchdown within the next six minutes to put the Rams up by 21.

In the state title game, Jesuit contained Scarlett for much of the game as Ryan Nall did much of Central Catholic’s rushing damage (11 carries, 197 yards and three touchdowns).

But come late in the third quarter with the game knotted at 28, it was Scarlett once again who stole the show. He took a handoff out of a shotgun set, bounced off a group of tacklers and charged down the left sideline into the end zone for a 47-yard run.

In what could be their team’s last shot at Scarlett, the Jesuit defense knows what to expect from the state’s top rusher.

“We’ve just got to go in fearless and ready to hit low,” said junior cornerback Zachary Houlemard, who made an interception in the state championship. “He’s a big back coming in to try to run over our DBs and secondary. So we got to go low and be ready to wrap up and drive through him.”

Houlemard (19) made an interception late in the second quarter of last year's title game. (Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

One player up to the task of helping contain Scarlett is senior defensive end Nathan Hartmeier, who was listed under 6-feet last season but can still pack a punch in the trenches.

“He’s hands down the strongest one on the team,” junior linebacker Geremiah Maxie said of Hartmeier. “He’s really difficult to keep contained.”

The Crusaders also get an assist in how to tackle Scarlett from their own power runner Jason Talley. Talley, a 6-foot-0 and 200-pound junior, does not have the same breakaway speed as his rival counterpart. But he does give Jesuit defenders practice bracing for contact against a similarly bruising runner.

“He’ll lower his head and try to run you over in a heartbeat,” Houlemard said. “It toughens you out and it gets you ready for the game.”

In preparation for Friday’s highly anticipated season opener, the Crusaders still watch film of last season’s losses. They are more than familiar with Scarlett’s skills and the plays he has made to help Central Catholic deal Jesuit three of its six losses over the past two years.

"It just motivates us more to be prepared for this game and want to take (the Rams) head on,”Houlemard said of those losses.

Scarlett has burned Jesuit in each of the last three Holy Wars -- but Friday will be one final chance for Jesuit to get the last laugh.